Okanogan River now frozen over due to sub-zero temperatures

Here is the latest fishing report from Dave Graybill, longtime Eastern Washington outdoor radio host and angler (NOTE: This was written by Graybill before the latest deep freeze):

Anglers looking for water to fish for steelhead can check on the Okanogan. Due to the warm winter we’ve had much of the upper river is still flowing free and not frozen. The lower river, near Brewster is frozen and has been for some time.

I talked to Jerrod Gibbons, Okanogan Valley Guider Service, the other day and he said that the river can be floated from Omak to Okanogan.

He advised that those that want to give this stretch at shot should not be on the water at the crack of dawn. It is better to plan your float start after 10 in the morning, and try to go on a warmer day. As the day warms the shelf ice and floating slush clears off. This makes fishing less of a hassle.

Gibbons also mentioned that the fishing isn’t exactly hot right now due to the cold water temperatures, and typically the month of February is much better. Because the water is open there are anglers fishing from the shore.

However, like Gibbons says, it isn’t great. Anglers that land one fish for their efforts are having a good day. By the way, Gibbons is a new Dad. Gunner Thomas Gibbons was born on Jan. 10.

About the author

A Seattle native, Mark Yuasa is a lifelong angler who grew up near the banks of Lake Washington and has been covering fishing and outdoors for more than 21 years for The Seattle Times. Read his regular fishing report every Thursday and the outdoor notebook every Sunday.